Chief Prosecutor Lee Junghyun, Who Led "Channel A Case" Investigation, Loses Lawsuit to Overturn Suspension

Filed Lawsuit Challenging One-Month Suspension

The court has ruled that the disciplinary suspension imposed on Lee Junghyun, Chief Prosecutor at the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute class of 27), for failing to submit a research paper within the deadline, was legitimate.

Seoul Administrative Court, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News Agency

The Administrative Division 2 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Gong Hyunjin) delivered a verdict on the afternoon of August 20, dismissing Chief Prosecutor Lee’s lawsuit to revoke the disciplinary action taken by the Minister of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice had decided in April of last year to impose a one-month suspension on Chief Prosecutor Lee, who was then serving as a research fellow at the Legal Research and Training Institute, for violating his duty of diligence. The Ministry stated that he failed to submit a research paper within the stipulated one-year deadline and did not obtain approval for an extension.

In response, Chief Prosecutor Lee filed a lawsuit for the cancellation of the disciplinary action and a request for injunction in May of the same year.

Chief Prosecutor Lee argued that the suspension imposed for not submitting a research paper within the deadline was an unusually severe punishment and was unfair. During the first trial hearing in April, his legal representative stated, "The disciplinary action was based solely on failing to submit the assigned work within the period, which cannot be regarded as a violation of professional duties as a prosecutor, nor can the failure to submit the assignment be deemed conduct that undermines the prestige of the state or the Ministry of Justice."

He also claimed he was subject to retaliatory discipline because of his involvement in the case in which former Prosecutor General Yoon—who later became president—was suspended in December 2020 by then Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae over alleged interference with the Channel A case investigation. Chief Prosecutor Lee led the so-called "Channel A case" investigation in 2020 and was known to have been at odds with former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

His legal representative further argued, "Chief Prosecutor Lee was involved in the disciplinary measures against Yoon Suk Yeol, who was then prosecutor general, causing him to fall out of favor with the previous administration. There are sufficient grounds to infer that the disciplinary action against Lee had political motivations."

The Ministry of Justice responded, "The regulation on the research project submission period is not merely an advisory guideline but a rule stipulating professional obligations," adding, "It constituted conduct that damaged the dignity and prestige of a prosecutor."

Chief Prosecutor Lee's request for injunction was dismissed both at first instance and on appeal. In 2020, while serving as the First Deputy Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Lee directed the investigation into attempted extortion allegations against independent lawmaker Han Donghoon, who was then a chief prosecutor, and former Channel A reporter Lee Dongjae. Prosecutors indicted the former reporter, but he was ultimately acquitted, while Assemblyman Han was cleared of charges in April 2022.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.